US4215320A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Far-infrared laser tuned by the dynamic Stark effect
Assignee: AT&T Inc
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Filing: 1978-03-27
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Granted: 1980-07-29
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Expires: 1998-03-27
Abstract
Abstract Far-infrared tunable radiation is produced in a four-level laser system by using a pumping means for exciting population from the lowest level of the system to the upper level of a laser transition to create a population inversion between the upper and lower levels of the laser transition and a laser beam which is nearly resonant with the lower level of the laser transition and a fourth level of the system. The laser beam shifts the lower level of the laser transition according to the dynamic Stark effect to provide for tuning of the far-infrared radiation.
Inventors
- 👤 Tao-Yuan Chang
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 17:04
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/10; H01S3/102; H01S3/14; H01S3/22; H01S3/227
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
105 words
A tunable far-infrared laser comprising: a material having at least one lowest energy level and three other levels, and further having a laser transition existing between an upper transition level and a lower transition level from said three other levels; pump means for creating a population inversion between said upper transition level and said lower transition level of said laser transition; characterized in that said laser further includes means for illuminating said material by radiation whose energy is near the energy difference between said lower transition level and the other one of said three other levels; and means for varying the intensity of said radiation.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
105 words
A tunable far-infrared laser comprising: a material having at least one lowest energy level and three other levels, and further having a laser transition existing between an upper transition level and a lower transition level from said three other levels; pump means for creating a population inversion between said upper transition level and said lower transition level of said laser transition; characterized in that said laser further includes means for illuminating said material by radiation whose energy is near the energy difference between said lower transition level and the other one of said three other levels; and means for varying the intensity of said radiation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
A far-infrared laser as defined in claim 1 in which the means for populating said upper transition level of said laser transition is a laser.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
A tunable far-infrared laser as defined in claim 2 in which the material is a metal vapor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
A tunable far-infrared laser as in claim 3 in which the metal vapor is rubidium.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
A tunable far-infrared laser as in claim 4 in wich said lowest energy level has J=1/2.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
A tunable far-infrared laser as in claim 5 in which the lower transition level has J=1/2.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
A tunable far-infrared laser as defined in claim 6 which further includes means for plane polarizing the radiation from said laser which populates said upper transition level of said laser transition.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3892979A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1983-07-29 | 1984-01-28 | 1984-07-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-07-29 | 1988-01-28 | 1988-07-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-07-29 | 1992-01-28 | 1992-07-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |